jon: he's always good for a laugh. jenna: memorable. jon: very plain spoken former senator. jenna: and he has a point. jon: and he can dance. jenna: and he was teaching the other guy. did you get those tips? first the cowboy -- maybe we should listen to him on multiple levels? jon: thank you for joining us today. jenna: "america live" starts right now. megyn: fox news alert, the world on edge and the u.s. and its allies potentially on the brink of entering another war in the middle east to prevent syria from doing the unthinkable. welcome to "america live," everyone, i'm megyn cel by. just days after he first reported on concerns syria was actually mixing chemical weapons that could kill thousands of people at a time, we get word that the regime has loaded the nerve agent into bombs that could be dropped, we don't know when. the president earlier this here, our president, called chemical weapons use a, quote, red line that would get an immediate response from the united states, and here's what the white house said about it moments ago.

>> to the administration any more urgent than 48 hours ago? >> i think we've been clear all week about our concern -- well, probably longer than that, but since this has been a heighten, an issue that's getting heightened attention, we have made clear, i think, in very stark terms our concern about it. i wouldn't want to characterize our assessments based on intelligence any more than that. megyn: conor powell covering syria life from our mideast bureau today. >> reporter: again, the white house reiterated its stance that the use of chemical weapons is a red line and there would be consequences. it appears, though, to have very little impact on the assad regime which we now have learned has begun preparing, mixing and loading gas into bombs to use on its own people. now, this comes as fighting is moving closer and closer to the rebel -- or to the assad strongholds in damascus.

sarin gas is one of the most deadly chemical weapons in all of the world. it can kill within hours if this not treated, and it can kill dozens and hundreds and thousands at a time depending on how it is used. keep in mind, it only has a shelf life of about 60 days, so once you mix it, you are on the cusp of using it. as this is all happening, president assad is reaching out to several countries seeking asylum, he's apparently reached out to cuba, venezuela and ecuador, also several arab countries have reached out, the possibility of offering him asylum. now, none of this seems to have changed assad's mind. a spokesman for him, though, is saying he will never leave syria, and he would never use chemical weapons. clearly, megyn, things are happening in syria that have a potential for a very deadly outcome. megyn: conor, thank you. one heartbreaking story we are hearing comes from the city of aleppo, a community that many business owners and minority groups had called home. now it's a war zone, like much

of syria. rubble replacing buildings, one family so terrified, they have reportedly lived underground for four months with only a tiny lamp to give them light. the family says it only leaves the makeshift bunker once every two weeks to shower and only adding to the crisis, the city is now facing the possibility of water, food and electricity shortages. well, the chilling possibility that syria could possibly use sarin gas attacks on its own people, you know, they'd be going after the rebels ostensibly, but we've seen so many civilian deaths in the government's effort to go after the rebels. i mean, we have seen babies and children, women, civilians tortured and killed day after day in syria. and now the thought that they might unleash chemical weapons on them is focusing new attention on what happened back in 1988 when saddam hussein did it. he used the same type of chemical weapons to kill kurds,

thousands of them. again, back in '88. thousands of innocent died in the attack, more than 10,000 suffered horrific injuries, not to mention -- we'll talk about it, exactly what happened in '88, how it unfolded, how they handled it and what the death toll was. they said birds just started dropping out of the sky, sheep and goats -- that was the first sign -- started keeling over in the fields dead, and then came the human death toll. it happens quickly, and it is awful. and it is one of the reasons why our government is taking this so seriously, this possible threat. and preparation now of weapons like sarin gas. more on that coming up in just a bit. also from washington right now, fox news has confirmed that the fbi is today investigating who hacked into the computers of our retired admiral mike mullen and read his e-mails. this guy's the former chairman of the joint chiefs. and they're in his personal

computer. the bureau discovered that someone had read the e-mails of the former chairman of the joint chiefs back in october of this year, and we are told that all the clues point to someone in china. john lucas is an internet security expert and the international president of high-tech crime experts. did i get your last anytime right? >> close. megyn: thanks for the clarification. now, he's on his personal computer, but he's on government sort of property doing work for the government on his personal computer, and he's talking to people who still have all the clearances and so on, and why do we believe it was the chinese? >> well, what happens is when the fbi or anybody gets involved and started tracking this back, we're going to trace the ip addresses and the connections that gives you a connection from where the source is coming from. now, i guess they ended up in china, but that doesn't necessarily mean that it could have been someone from china. somebody could have hacked in

from another country and started that attack from a chinese server inbound to the u.s. but the fbi's very, very, you know, keen on this stuff, so i'm sure the end source was china. megyn: they say that he not only is he, obviously, the former chairman of the joint chiefs, but that right now he is on a state department board that's been appointed to review what happened in benghazi, libya, on 9/11 of this year, he is on an advisory board at the state department and one at the cia. so clearly, this man has got important matters on his desk. how exposed could we be if the chinese have access to all of his writings? >> very exposed. and this is nothing new. if you take a look at a typical burglar and he wants to break into a yard and has this hardened lock on a fence that he cannot cut through, what is he going to do? he's going to cut the chain. we're not going to go after a facility that spends billions of our tax dollars on securing their networks. we're going to go after somebody who works outside, somebody who has access to internal

resources. it's called a u-turn attack. what they do is they find that weak link such as a home computer or a personal computer belonging to a former admiral or cia agent, and they attack that. they get access to that, and then they use their vpn connection inbound to get access to the same resources he would have access to or she would have access to based on their security level. megyn: because we're hearing more and more of this. they say the fbi's looking into -- it's not just admiral mullen. apparently, there have been several hacking attempts, some successful, mom not, on -- some not, on former officials who work on their potential computers. but in the case of admiral mullen, it was on the grounds of the u.s. naval academy, but that doesn't matter. they break into the computer from, you know, around the world. it's not like they have to sneak on to the naval academy to access his computer, it's just that his computer is, i guess, more exposed than those at the naval academy. >> there are applications out there. if the admiral clicked on the

wrong thing and got something installed -- now, these utilities are self-extracting, self-installing utilities that gives anybody remote access to that laptop no matter where it sits. megyn: i know they do this in general to random people, but how do they know which computer is admiral mullen's and where it's sitting? >> it's all social engineering. maybe they knew something, they broke into a computer -- here's the most disturbing part of this, and it's really going to be interesting to see how this investigation comes out. how did they know this guy was going to be assigned to this, assigned to this particular board and even to break into him? now f they had been watching his e-mail for some time and saw that was coming up, maybe what they did was watched his e-mail, found out -- traced back where he was locking in from, got his home ip address which comes back to what they call a subscriber information on a source ip address and, actually, then started attacking his home, and no matter where he went with

that laptop, they had access to it. megyn: well, the chinese deny that they were the ones behind it. they say they, too, have concerns about hacking and they have been the victims of hacking themselves. >> right. megyn: they also say there was no classified material on his home or personal material, but, obviously, that's not the only question. there could be a lot of information on there. john, thank you so much for your expertise. >> i think that the chinese are going to be working with o.j. to find the guy that really did it, right? [laughter] megyn: we'll leave it at that. thank you. well, breaking news from the state of michigan this hours a it looks like the state that is about to become a big new battleground between organized labor and the state's struggles to improve its economy. plus, a controversial police tool under fire today as drivers in one city claim that those traffic cameras aimed at keeping things safe, you know the ones they send you the automatic ticket in the mail for allegedly running the red light? that they're rigged! they're rigged against you and to turn a profit for police. we'll investigate.

and a new report today about vogue editor-in-chief anna wintour possibly being nominated as the ambassador to the u.k. and that new reporting has sparked new questions about whether the woman infamous for being rather tough on her staff possesses the diplomatic skills to deal with our best friend over in england and international relations. former u.n. ambassador john bolton faced similar criticism when he was up for his post, and he joins us next on whether he thinks wintour, infamously portrayed loosely in the film "the devil wears prada" has what it takes. >> oh, good morning, miranda. >> get me isaac. i don't see my breakfast here. where are my eggs? where's the piece of paper i had in my hand yesterday morning? the girls need a surfboard or spring break.

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♪ >> so you don't read runway? >> no. >> and before today, you had never heard of me -- >> no. >> and you have no style or sense of fashion. >> i think that depends on what your -- >> no, no, that wasn't a question. [laughter] megyn: well, the woman on whom the hit film "the devil wears prada" was reportedly based is back in the news today, and even the subject of the white house press briefing as new questions come up about the possible nomination of vogue magazine editor anna wintour oz our next u.s -- as our next u.s. ambassador to the u.k. or maybe to france. white house with press secretary jay carney defended the idea, insisting that nondiplomats like ms. wintour can make good envoys. >> what qualities does the president look for when he's going to pick an ambassador? an important ally like france or the u.k.? >> you know, i think that the president in all of his personnel appointments looks for

talent, wisdom and character in his appointees, and he would do that regardless of the position. >> is it important for a diplomat to be diplomatic? [laughter] >> one of the, i mean, another way of addressing that is to answer the question there have been enormously effective diplomats in this country's history who have not necessarily risen through the diplomatic corps. we had one of the greatest diplomats of his generation pass away not long ago, richard holbrooke, and i think everyone who knew him or sat across from the table from him would agree he was not by anyone's traditional definition particularly diplomatic. >> no. but he was also a brilliant negotiator. >> they come in all types and sizes and approaches. >> has the president seen "the devil wears prada"? [laughter] megyn: john bolton, former

ambassador to the united nations. it's come to this! has the president seen "the devil wears prada,", which, you know, was profittedly based on anna wintour. your thoughts on that, mr. ambassador. >> how do you know she's not going to be the next secretary of state? why limit her to a mere ambassadorship? it wouldn't surprise me. it has been historically the case that large contributors to presidential campaigns get appointed -- megyn: and she's one of the top ten bundlers for president obama. >> and i have to tell you, i've had wide experience with political appointees -- true, mostly republicans -- and they've been very effective. i would not underestimate how important it is overseas to have somebody who knows the president personally, who could call the president if they needed to. and here's the really important thing, who cares first and foremost about the president's policy. not about what the bureaucracy at the state department wants, but about the president's policy. i'm not saying anna wintour's

going to do all that -- megyn: right. >> but that is important. megyn: what does that person do? if you become the boord to the u.k., what do you do? >> well, that is one of the hardest posts because london is so close to washington that people go over all the time. there's a lot of direct phone communication. and it really is typical of embassies around the world. it's very different than 200 years ago when you got on a ship and three months later you got to the place you were accredited to. but london, i think, is very, very hard that way given the enormous depth and breadth of u.s./u.k. ties. so a lot of it is what they call the representational function, showing up with the flag literal hi at ceremonies, going to receptions -- megyn: looking good, having the right evening gown. i mean, she's perfect! >> she's going to be the most stylish ambassador in decades, probably. megyn: but they were saying one of the things that really helps in this particular post being ambassador to the u.k. or france is you have to have some dough, because the social obligations on the ambassador are enormous

and swied spread, and -- widespread, and you really have to go to a lot of functions and sort of look the part, act the part, dress the part. >> well, this is where you'll recall the hostess with the mostest from the truman administration, i think she was -- meg i love how you overestimate me. >> and the fact is, that part oe representational function. i don't know how rich anna wintour is, but i hope she's prepare today spend some of it. megyn: now, we run the clip as virtually everybody covering this story has done because that movie was said to be loosely based on her, and it outlines this, you know, tyrant of a vogue editor-in-chief who's really tough on the staff and doesn't tolerate any dissent, and there's a question about temperament. that's why jake tapper of nbc use asked jay carney, must the person be diplomatic? could that be a potential problem for her? i ask you this in particular because your diplomatic approach was an issue when president bush wanted to make you the

ambassador to the united nations. >> well, there are all kinds of ways tobe diplomatic and all kinds of ways to fail to be diplomatic. i think i was criticized because i said things directly, and i think in america plain speaking is a virtue, and i think it's a virtue in diplomacy too. temperament more broadly, obviously, is a question when you have to manage a large staff, and it is a fair subject for inquiry by the senate in the confirmation process. if they do it with a little objectivity. and sometimes they don't quite measure up to that standard. megyn: well, i mean, if the movie is true in any way, she is blunt. she would get points in that direction. but we're not hearing some of the outcry from some of the critics on the left thus far, and it reminds me of the outcry we heard when you were nominated because your temperament was such an issue. you wound up having to be a recess appointment because your temperament was such an issue to the point where it literally brought one senator to tears

talking about john bolton. watch this. >> too many of my colleagues, too many of my colleagues are not going to understand that this appointment is very, very important to our country at a strategic time when we need friends all over the world. we need somebody up there that's going to be able to get the job done. and i know some of my friends say, oh, let it go, george, it's going to work out. i want to take the risk. i came back here and ran for a second term -- megyn: about my kids and my grandkids, he said. do you think this is possibly going to bring anybody to tears? it's not the same post, but great britain is our best friend. >> i want to say on behalf of senator voinovich that he eventually came around to support my nomination after i'd been in new york for around a year. megyn: he worked through his emotions. >> whatever. i don't think anybody's going to get that wrought up about it because in my case one of the reasons i think the democrats focused on it was that i was a surrogate to criticize the bush administration as a whole. i do think that when you talk

about diplomats like richard holbrooke, i don't want to say i used him as a model for my temperament because my temper wasn't quite that good, but it is a measure of whether you communicate effectively what the american position is and advocate american interests. and i think if there's a problem with our diplomacy generally, it's that our diplomats are not effective advocates. now, if anna wintour can be effective, more power to her. megyn: and redo the whole fashion scene over in france or the u.k.. >> and that'd be fine too. the embassy probably needs new decoration. megyn: president bush had a guy who was big into horse racing, so they tend to go with people who raise a lot of money for them and are a lot of dough so they can engage in these things and are loyal to them. >> i would not underestimate the importance of being personally close to the president. when that ambassador has to go in and deliver a message that's unpleasant, when they know it comes directly from the

president, the other side will listen. megyn: well, all that plus, you know, her dad was british. [laughter] thank you so much, ambassador. >> anytime. [laughter] megyn: well, it is looking increasingly likely that the president will get billions in new revenue as part of the tax and spending deal, but now he's also demanding the power to grow our national debt as much as he wants whenever he wants without congressional approval. why that may be a deal break everybody. plus, breaking news from michigan on labor rules.

♪ megyn: well, brand new weekly employment numbers to tell you about, and the issue just seems never to really get that much better these days. the labor department reporting 370,000 americans filing for first-time unemployment claims, dropping about 25,000 from last

thursday's report, but the four-week average is estimated at ability 408,000 -- about 408,000. jobless claims need to consistently stay below 375,000 to signal a true economic recovery. ♪ >> well, we are hearing growing concerns now for the safety of a young lieu chemoya patient who vanished from an arizona hospital last week. you can see the 11-year-old in this video walk out of the hospital with the girl's mother. the girl's father says she is safe in mexico where she's being treated, but investigators say she may still be at risk. trace? >> reporter: yeah, megyn, the dad says she's fine in mexico, but he won't say which hospital she's in, and he will not give phoenix police any proof so they can call off this search. listen. >> is it possible that she is receiving medical treatment somewhere? certainly, it's possible, and if that is the case, there wouldn't necessarily be a charge for him to face. >> reporter: but police point out this is the same father who

said just a few days ago he didn't know where his daughter was. 11-year-old emily was caught on surveillance camera, as you can see here, leaving a phoenix hospital with her mom. she had the iv still in her arm, and you notice that she had her right arm amputated just above the elbow. that's because of an infection. she'd been getting chemotherapy. she's prone to infection. the concern now is she's got a tube in her chest to deliver medicine, it wasn't sealed off, so it acts as an open wound and could easily become infected, and because it's near her heart, she could quickly die. the father told nbc that she plames the hospital for -- blames the hospital for his daughter's arm being amputated and says the hospital pressured the family to pay the bills. the hospital issued a statement saying in part, quoting here, clinical decisions are not based on ability to pay. this family has already skipped out on a couple of other hospitals, they were driving a car that had illegal license plates, and they're not really looking to press charges here, megyn, they just want to find

out if the girl's okay, so now they're sending a team into mexico to see if they can finally get to the bottom of this. megyn? megyn: trace, thanks. well, as we get reports that syria stands ready to use poison gas, chemical weapons on its own people, we look back on the 1988 sarin gas attack in iraq. this picture, let's not show this. that left this little boy in the hospital and killed thousands of others. what are the lessons we can learn from 1988? plus, on the same day we lesh the national debt has -- learn the national debt has increased by 50% in president obama's first term, there are growing concerns about a white house request to eliminate one of the few tools congress has to keep government spending in check. and a new report raising serious questions about how taxpayer money's being spent including claims that it helped folks attend a training course that looked like something straight out of the walking dead. [gunfire]

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could become a huge political battle in michigan. >> reporter: it's hard to figure on or select a state where a labor battle could be more symbolic than the state of michigan, the heart of the auto industry. a lot of people were wearing santa caps but they were not singing christmas carols. there were howls of protests over the announcement that right-to-work legislation would be announced and likely passed. the governor said he would be onboard and seen it. he says with this issue right-to-work bill on the table it's time to embrace the benefits that come with giving men and women the freedom they deserve. last year in indiana a similar piece of legislation moved it way through the indiana legislature and the current governor mitch daniels signed it

into law. the republicans held both houses in the legislature. a similar situation in michigan. the michigan republican party hold both houses in michigan and the governor's chamber as well. will we see similar sort of protests that we say 24 months ago in madison when dramatic changes were done up there under the leadership of republican governor scott walker and a republican held state legislature there? will there be those sustained protests as well? common sentence would suggest it does look like this piece of legislation moving forward which would offer an option for anyone going into a quote union employer, whether to join a unioner to not, that this will be fought and fought hard. it is likely to pass and likely to be signed. the question is, what will

unions and their allies do in response. they really have nothing to lose by raising a stink about this. you will see protesters up in lansing today, tomorrow and maybe for some time. megyn: we have a big story developing in washington over our debt crisis. the national debt stands at $16 trillion. it was $10.6 trillion when president obama first took office and it has increased roughly 50% over the course of his first term. now president obama is insisting that any deal on this fiscal cliff which has automatic tax hikes and spending cuts as of january one, they are trying to avert that. he says any deal on this must include an end to the debt ceiling all together. he wants complete power to raise the country's limit by himself. he doesn't want to have to get congressional approval. that is a demand stirring strong response from republicans today.

>> the on way we ever cut spending is by using the debate over the debt limit to do it. now the president wants to remove that spur to cut all together. of course, it gets in the way of his spending plans. i can assure you it one happen. the american people want washington to get spending under control and the debt limit is the best tool we have to make the president take that demand seriously. the american people want us to fight to cut spending. it's a fight they deserve and a fight we are happy to have. >> joining me now, simon rosenberg. and mark theisen. guys, welcome. simon, let me start with you on this. we did have some democrats come on the show and say no, the president doesn't get to just decide when to raise the debt limit by himself. you need conscious at approval for that and that shouldn't

change. harry reid feels differently. and the president feels differently. >> the president is right to say this is an extreme measure and was used irresponsibly last year. just to clarify and tellyear. the viewers what you are talking about. the republicans in exchange for raising the debt limit said we'll do it but there have to be spending cuts to offset the amount of debt. >> what i don't like about the debt ceiling process is we have a process to create budget and there are congress and committees. things are supposed to go through both houses and get voatds on. i think this is going outside the democratic process. the republican numbers went down much more than barack obama's did last year. i think they have to be careful

about what they are doing here. >> i think the reason simon doesn't like it is because it gives the republicans leverage to force the president to deal with the debt. the president has as much chance of succeeding as you have of getting john bolton to cry on your show. megyn: i think i can do it. a challenge? >> i bet you can. in the last 27 years, every significant debt reduction bill that passed starting with graham rosen has been linked to a debt limit increase. this is the only tool in washington that forces both sides to do something about the debt and spendersing. so republicans aren't going to give this up because it's the only tool they have in this political situation to stop the president from going forward. and the reality is last year speaker boehner set an important resident. it's called the boehner rule. one dollar in spending increase

for one dollar for debt limit increase. you balance the budge net 10 years without raising taxes. the republicans aren't giving this up any time and neither are democrats. megyn: do you see irony that the president wants to eliminate congress from raising the debt limit. when he was a senator he said in part we are debating raising a debt limit and he said this is a sign of leadership failure. increasing america's debt weakens us domestically and internationally. washington is shifting the burden on the backs of our children and grandchildren. america has a debt problem and a failure of leadership and america deserves better. >> it's true when bill clinton left office in 2000 we had you are plus and the deficit would

have been eliminated as we sit here today what changed that was the republican president and congress. what put us on the path we are on now is not democrats. we would have no collective debt at all if we had left in place the clinton budgetary strategy. megyn: what do you make of that quote. >> what i'm responding to is i think what we are dealing with is a tell poar a temporal thing. it would drive the markets down and create say could and uncertainty. the president is saying we can't go through that again. megyn: he's wanting not only to raise it but to have uniform authority to raise. a fewer years ago they were saying that was a failure of

leadership. >> he may not get it but he's right to argue that way the republicans have been doing this has been irresponsible. let's get this done in the way our democracy has worked the for hundreds of years. not this new extraordinary thing. i think he's right to put pressure on the republicans. megyn: i thought it was the democrats trying to make this part of the deal to head off -- to stop us from going off the fiscal cliff. they said by the way we need to raise the debt limit and this new proposal of eliminating congress from the process of raising the debt limit. >> senator mcconnell has offered to have an up or down vote on this and democrats haven't taken him up on it. all of the spending reductions that simon cited in the 1990s were tied to the debt limit increase. it gives republicans leverage. president obama has the leverage

in the fiscal cliff fight. he's willing to let the tax go up on the middle class. on the debt increase he doesn't have the same leverage. bob woodward pointed out that tim geithner said to president obama if the republicans stick to their guns on the debt limit bill you cannot reto it. the consequences will be so clam to us that you cannot veto it. so obama would have capitulated. megyn: that's what simon is saying now. that we shouldn't put the country in that position. >> the only way we'll get action on this debt. we keep spending and spending and raising our debt by $6 trillion every obama term. that's what catastrophic. the republicans need to stick to the boehner rule. a dollar of spending cuts for every dollar in spending increases.

why give in on taxes and the fiscal cliff fight when you will have all the leverage. megyn: simon? >> in the rasmussen poll that came out today the republicans lost 10 points since the election in the congressional generic fight. they are losing this economic argument right now. if they pull what mark is saying, you are going to see the republican party's numbers in the 20s. they have no leverage on this thing. >> not going to happen. megyn: we'll leave it at that. thank you both. just ahead. a much more somber note. new warning about the sarin gas threat in syria. city drivers claim a class action that the traffic cameras are actually rigged.

soot whole world is watching and the president of the united states made clear there will be consequences if the assad regime makes a terrible mistake by using these chemical weapons on their own people. megyn: that was leon panetta with a warning that the united states and our allies will not tolerate a chemical attack by syria. we got reports that they were mixing the chemical weapons earlier this week. focusing new attention on saddam hussein's 1988 massacre of the kurds. thousands of innocent people died in that attack. many of the victims were women and children.

it's believed sarin was one of hussein's weapons of choice. gordon, thanks so much for being here. sarin gas seems to be the main culprit they are talking about potentially in syria. talk to us about what happened since we do sadly have an historical example of its use. how it was used in 1988 again the kurds and what would likely happen if it were used in syria. >> it was used against the kurds in march of 1988. between 3,000 to 5,000 died within an hour. many others died later. but what occurred was a trail of birth defects, miscarriages, colon and other cancers that plagued the kurdish people. megyn: a man known as chemical

ali, he was executed in 2010. in addition to the thousands who died, between 7,000 and 10,000 were injured. they dropped it via planes. the first signs were an odd smell like sweet apples. people were surprised how quiet the bombs seemed. and suddenly one of the first signs was sheep and goats started to fall over in the streets and birds started dropping from the sky. >> that an example of what sarin will do. there was a feeling in that attack hussein used a variety of chemical weapons against his people. not just sarin and nerve agents, also mustard gas. that's because people died in a variety of ways in the 1988 attack. what we'll see in syria is a sarin attack and that will result in people dying in

convulsions. sarin attacks the nerves. the nerve fire pun controllably so -- fire uncontrollably and the impossiblability of breathing. megyn: is there anyway to save yourself from a sarin attacks? >> there are anti-dots bu januae because they are not able to save themselves with medical treatment which has to be administered on the spot. megyn: underscoring how point is to stop it in the first place. do you believe that assad would do it? >> yes, i believe he would do it because he is desperate and i think he believes the international community will not do anything. he has been protected by moscow

and beijing. the west has stood on the side lines and we have given a veto to the sponsors of the assad regime. he thinks he can get away with it. he believes he's lost anyway because the civil war engulfed his regime and the rebels have been on the march the last several months. >> we'll be right back with red light cameras. are they legal? citracal slow release continuously releases calcium plus d with efficient absorption in one daily dose. citracal slow release. ♪ [ male announcer ] campbell's green bean casserole. it's amazing what soup can do

megyn: a major class action lawsuit over red light cameras. this new lawsuit alleges cameras are actually rigged to booths

payoff for the ticket collectors. trace gallagher has more on that. >> reporter: it's a cash cow for new york city. $293 million in the past five years alone. the reason new york is being sued is the drivers think the i is rigging them. federal law says the yellow lights at intersections where the speed olympic is 30-mile-an-hour has to be at least 3 seconds long. trim a seth sent out to engineers. they checked out a dozen lights and found all of the yellow lights were too short. some of them up to a half second short. that half second resulting in tens of thousands of extra tickets. the new york department of transportation says there has been no substantiation that any red light cameras were improperly timed. triple aaa acknowledges their

mini study is not enought to support this lawsuit but says there is nothing to support the city's claim that cameras save time. too short yellow lights guarantee lots of citations will be issues but does nothing to improve safety. there are 540 communities in this country that use these cameras. the highest fines right here in california, $480. and most of them are not running the red light. it's not forethought stopping fully when you make that right-hand turn. there is one light in oakland alone that generates $3 million a year. one camera. $3 million. megyn: i got pulled over once for going left on red. about it was a one-way. i said i thought could take a left on red as long as you are going into a one way. he said you can unless there is

a big sign saying no turn on red. it's problematic. thanks, trace. there is a report out on wasteful government spending that highlights interesting programs including one where taxpayers footing the bill to help prepare for a scenario street out of the walking dead. one senator says that just part of a multi-billion dollar problem.

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rating the use of chemical weapons is indeed a red line. while the state department stays tight lipped. leon panetta addressed reporters saying the concerns are serious. >> there is no question we remain very concerned that as the opposition advances, particularly on damascus, that the regime might very well consider the use of chemical weapons. megyn: james rosen joins us from the state department with more. >> reporter: the u.n. envoy to the syrian crisis and russia's top diplomat just told reporter no sensation sal decisions came out of it. however, clinton and sergey laugh roof agreed to look for

creative ways to work with each oath, blocking proposed resolutions. today did bring a sign that moscow's support for bashar al-asaad may be ebbing. a top russian lawmaker and close ally of vladimir putin was quote with saying we do share the decision the existing government in syria should carry out its functions, but time has shown this task is beyond its strength. >> we hope the rugs will understand the need not only for a political solution which they say they understand, but the importance of applying pressure on the sides to get them there. it's other -- otherwise it won't work. >> reporter: the state department says it sees the action on the ground

intensifying in syria, particularly in the capital of damascus. it is said to be fierce fighting between the government and rebel forces on the road to damascus international airport. fox news confirmed syrian technicians mixed the components of sarin gas and sources believe they placed this gas on breakable aerosol-style cannisters that can be dropped from the skies. the worsening of the position was confirmed today that the obama's administration, warnings. >> we are remain concerned as the opposition advances on damascus that the regime might very well consider the use of chemical weapons. the assad regime ought to not make the mistake thinking somehow it can use chemical weapons on their own people and

get away with that. there will be consequences. >> western diplomats will be gathering in morocco. megynmegyn: james, thank you. the president warned that if syria does use chemical weapons that country would be crossing a red line. if they cross that line, what does our threat mean? air strikes? u.s. troops on the ground in syria? we'll speak with two experienced commanders about what a response would look like from the united states and the challenges ahead. >> there are discussions going on now but i want to tell everybody here. i'm happy. i have had a number of republicans come to me and a few democrats. we are going to change the rules. we cannot continue in this way. i hope we can get something that the republicans will work with

us on. about it won't be a handshake. we tried that last time and it didn't work. megyn: that was senate democratic leader harry reid who is talking about changing the senate rules for good. opponent call this a double standard because it many the same sort of plan that senator reid and then senator obama harshly criticized when they were in the minority. and republicans were in control. joining me now to discuss it, our fox news digital power play editor chris stirewalt. harry reid said we are going to change the rules. that was the quote. we are going to change the rules. listen to harry reid in 2005. >> you should not be able to come in here and change willy

nilly a rule of the senate. rule of the senate you change by the rules. megyn: what happened? >> what happened was they are sick and tired of not being able to move legislation with simple majority. that's what they would like to do. what he was talking about in 2005 was the republicans had a plan that they called the nuclear option. very scary. they didn't call it that but democrats called it the nuclear option. what they said they were going to do was blow up senate rules just on judicious appointments so president bush's nominees could get through. megyn: they wanted an up or down vote. and the democrats were preventing the nominees from getting an up or down vote. >> that accurate, counselor. the truth is that what the democrats are talking about doing now is employing a similar

tactic that the republicans were talking about in relation to the judicious nominees, but for everything in the senate. if that was the nuclear option, this is the double nuclear option. what harry reid is talking about doing. changing the rules of the senate, getting bare majority of 51 votes to change the rules of the senate to undo the super majority threshold that exist for everything else in the senate. he figures if he can get 51 votes to change the rules he will never need 60 votes again. megyn: you needed the 60 votes for decades. it's been this way for years and years. there was a story when the republicans were considering doing this in '06. senator robert byrd, a well-respected democrat pulled aside some of the top republicans and said, don't do this. this is -- this is an affront to the way the entire congress is set up with the house being sort of the bubbling tea cup and the

senate being the saucer where it's supposed to cool off. and you will make the simple where a simple majority rules look just like the house. you will up end the way the senate and the house is supposed to work and they didn't wind up doing it. >> robert byrd served in the senate -- way back in the 70s that created the circumstance where they said what we want to do -- since filibusters are possible and you always need 60 votes to end a filibuster. let's just assume if one side says they are going to filibuster, we'll call it at that and let it stand. what democrats say that should be done away with and it should be a simple majority in the senate and the republicans say we have been operating this for 40 or more years. how about let's just go ahead with this instead of you trying to jam us. what republicans are concerned about is if this fiscal cliff

stuff gets going, that they are going to really have hammer and tongts after republicans in the house. so they are just trying to hold the line. megyn: we have to play the sound bite from then senator obama on this notion of getting rid of the filibuster. >> the american people want less partisanship in this town but everyone knows in this chamber that if the majority chooses to end the filibuster and change the rules are and put an end to democratic debate, then the fighting and bitterness and the gridlock will only get worse. i understand that republicans are getting a lot of pressure to do this from factions outside the chamber. but we need to rise above the ends justify the means mentality because we are here to answer to the people, all of the people, not just the ones that are wearing our particular party label. megyn: the white house says it's

behind senator reid's proposal. he too has reverses himself. >> this could be another negotiating chip in the fiscal cliff. harry reid's threat. it could be something to try to get more tax increases out of the republicans. megyn: interesting. this is a huge deal back in '06. you haven't heard as much about it now that the shoe is on the other foot. the democrats find themselves in the minority they play rue the day harry reid pushed this through. new questions how to tell if someone is too high to drive. now that marijuana is legal for recreational use in two states, authorities are trying to figure out what the legal limit should be for getting behind the wheel after you toke up. this is why. video of a crash that look the lives of four teenagers. prosecutors say the 17-year-old driver was high on marijuana when he got behind the wheel.

it happened on long island in october. the driver took a curb at 110 miles an hour. crossed three lanes of traffic and skidded into trees, one of whicher to the car in half. he survived but his friend did not. the new marijuana law weren't into effect in the state. people can smoke for recreational purposes. that means a lot of work for law enforcement:'. william lajeunesse has more. >> reporter: like alcohol, 20% of teens smoke marijuana and drive. like too many martinis too much pot makes you a dangerous driver. how much is too much and how do cops know? washington state, we are about to find out. >> you want to know why i pulled you over? >> reporter: driving while high while illegal research shows more drivers are toking up. studies like this one in europe show too much marijuana affects coordination and judgment.

>> a reduced ability to divide one's attention. >> reporter: marijuana advocates argue marijuana is less debilitating than alcohol. but a new study shows those who drive within 3 hours of smoking pot are at a greater risk of causing a crash. >> it inhibits the ability to jump the judge time and distance. >> reporter: in state where marijuana is legal, the level is 5 man or grams. the impairment some argue is equal to alcohol. >> it's difficult to determine whether that five nanograms will change. >> reporter: heavy users though not impaired can test

positive weeks after smoking. also what you smoke and how you smoke it affects people differently. even experts don't know how much pot causes impairment. >> two dosages would give me 5 nanograms. it's impossible to make that determination. >> reporter: the bottom line is this is going to be litigated. the pot people want it at 10 nanograms and it's at 5. megyn: coming up. how does america respond toor syria using kem wall weapons. only gaviscon® forms a protective barrier that helps block stomach acid from splashing up- relieving the pain quickly. try fast, long lasting gaviscon®.

megyn: as the administration threatens action against syria, if that country does resort to using chemical weapons against its own people. this comes after fox news confirms syrian troops have the deadly sarin gas weaponnized and at the ready.

retired lieutenant colonel tony shaffer is a senior fellow for advanced studies. general, let me start with you. an original member of delta force. special operations unit. you served in iran, going difficult shu, worked for the cia. your thoughts on whether assad would use chemical weapons against the syrian people and whether there is any way to stop it for the united states. >> first of all i don't think that the fact he mixed the chemicals is necessarily an indication he intend to use them. i think if he is cornered and he has no option left, it's possible that he will. the key is finding someone to give him asylum. so he knows there is a way out of this. ultimately if he has no place to

go i think he will use chemical weapons in a desperate effort to save his regime. megyn: thrrts reports he's seeking asylum. this is unconfirmed. is this something we should be rooting for? >> absolutely. i think the best interests of erveg involved is to have him go in that direction. we cannot afford from the policy perspective to see military action result in the difficult any nution of the central government capability of syria. we have to retain the army and government. he should leave. the government should stay and that's the best possible option. >> if asaw leaves -- in no chemical weapons are used. what are we left with? >> you are still going to see factional fighting.

because of the number of people in the rebel forces that have been killed and a number of people that have been brutalized by this regime. you will see factional fighting. but if assad leaves and as colonel schaeffer says, there is a chance for some kind of reconciliation and some kind of government to be formed that represents more than just the interests of the rebels that are fighting against assad today. megyn: that's the best case scenario we can hope for. unfortunately we still have to deal with the potentially case scenario. we have to send troops in to stop the unleashing of chemical weapons on the syrian people. how can we accomplish that. >> it's not practical. we have options. we have two carrier battle groups that could be used for air campaign. we have special operations for forces in the third country.

they are ready to act. our national objectives to the united states is to make sure those chemical weapons don't fall into the hand of terrorist organizations. secondly t to preof our allies - secondly to preserve our allies in the process of doing this. i think you would only make things far worse. while i think we need to preserve our initiative.. the best ones are making sure assad leaves and we secure those wmds. the russians should play a role in this. the russians supplied them. the russians recognizing they have a role to play. megyn: what if some al qaeda affiliated terrorist.get their hands on these chemical weapons. how much sophistication do you need to use them? to get them out of syria to use them against western interests

over on -- in europe or potentially here? >> it doesn't take much. first of all your previous guest i think was clear in terms of the volatility and the danger of these chemical weapons. i think the fact is because we know hezbollah has integrated with the rebel forces that we should expect when asued leaves, if there is not some stability within the government they will wind up in the hands of hezbollah as well as died. we know the rebel force forces e infiltrated by entities that would use those things in a terrorist act. and one of the places that needs to be very concerned about this is israel. because they have been a primary target of most of these terrorist organizations. i think it many a very dangerous situation. and i agree with colonel schaeffer. we have to stop them from getting into the manned of these

people. i think their coalition needs to be formed using arab nations like iraq, like jordan, even lebanon, to be the ground force if that's what's required to stop these things from getting loose and used by the terrorists. >> thank you both so much. new questions about faith in a classroom. laugh roof *. laugh roof *.

megyn: a new fight over faith in the state of north carolina after an elementary school censors a poem a first grade wrote for her grandfather, a

vietnam veteran. they removed the word "god" before allowing her toe read it for a veterans day ceremony. >> reporter: the people are irate. the 6-year-old's parents went to a school board meeting and there were 100 people supporting them and not one person was there to oppose them. the girl was supposed to read this poem at the veterans day assembly. there was a line in the poem that said he prayed to god for peace, he prayed to god for strength. a parent got word of the god reference, complained and the superintendent deleted the line on the chance it might violate the separation of church and state. the first amendment center said she had every right to reference got until she got to the

assembly saying when the public school knows there is going to be a reference to religion there is a problem and they have to stop it. the alliance for freedom says what's next. a student being told she can't recite the gettysburg address because the president refers to one nation under god? and refer to the lays of nature's god? after the line was deleted in the poem. the superintendent is getting together with the school board and principal to see if he made the right decision, then they are going to go forward with policy from here on out. but the line in the poem is out. and the policy for now really has been been defined on how they will deal with this in the future. don't be surprised if there is legal thanks this as well. megyn: all right, trace, thank you. coming up.

glenn beck and vince vaughn. what are these two doing together? wait until you hear it. glenn beck very hopeful about it. we'll update you. plus it may look like a scene from "the walking dead" but it's a training exercise that you the taxpayer helped fund. see why one lawmaker says this is a multi-billion dollar problem. [gunshots and screams] now, i'm on a bayer aspirin regimen. [ male announcer ] be sure to talk to your doctor before you begin an aspirin regimen. [ woman ] learn from my story.

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and learn more about the kinds of plans that will be here for you now -- and down the road. i have a lifetime of experience. so i know how important that is. [gunfire] >> zombies. [laughter] megyn: well, it's not a tv show or a hollywood film, the zombie apocalypse is actually featured in a new government report. it's a disaster training exercise that you, the taxpayer, paid thousands of dollars for people to attend, the conference at which this was offered. just part of the $35 billion in wasteful spending discovered at the homeland security department, says a top senator. along with this, an extremely

expensive sleigh for santa. [laughter] look at this. $257,000 for an armored truck in fargo, north dakota, that's only used for training runs and parades including the one that carries santa claus. okay. joining me now, julie roginsky, a fox news contributor and former adviser to frank lautenberg, charles payne and didi benke. so santa upgraded his wheels a little bit this year, and we helped pay for it. tom coburn is very focused on government waste and, you know, god bless him, because we need somebody in the government who's focused on government list. he outlines things he doesn't believe are appropriate. i just want to tell the viewers what we understand about the zombie conference. apparently, we paid, dhs gave grants to first responders -- look at this. [laughter] we gave grants to first

responders to go get counterterrorism training, and they did, and they attended this five-day summit. and one of the things that was offered here was the zombie training exercise, but now under the microscope they're saying, oh, the taxpayer money didn't actually fund this particular piece of the conference, but in any event, coburn says, look, the money's finning bl, it's ridiculous. >> i actually interviewed senator coburn, and he made a fantastic point about this. by the way, i think he's a here are for -- hero for digging into this stuff. we've got the debate about the fiscal cliff and the debt ceiling and we're talking in the trillions. before you can even get to the trillions, if you can't stop stuff like this, does the american public ever believe that washington is going to get its act together if you can't stop this 100,000 here, million there, all, of course, adds up to billions. if we can't stop the zombies, taxpayers paying for the zombies, how can we ever tackle

medicare and social security? [laughter] megyn: that's the thing that makes people upset, julie. all right, if you're going to increase my taxes to help pay down the debt, help people in need, that's one thing, but if i'm going to be paying for zombies or for santa to ride the $250,000 sleigh, i object. >> i'm a little embarrassed. can you imagine being an employee and having to pretended to be a zombie? >> those were actors. >> i don't know about that. [laughter] i think they may have been dhs employees dressed up. charles is right, thanksgiving a little ri -- this is a little ridiculous. i understand what they're trying to do, they're trying to get people to be aware of homeland security and preparedness. the cdc did this and crashed their web site because so many people were into homeland security and preparedness and preparing people for real disasters. now you get, you know, if you watch the cdc tape, you buy a kit, you buy water, it prepares

people for it. having said that, i don't know that i want my homeland security dollars, i'd rather they be spent on homeland--type stuff like killing terrorists. megyn: although they're claiming, again, the taxpayer dollars did not go fund the actual zombie presentation, just the can conference around which it was built. didi, but it raises the point of who's minding the store? who either than coburn is keeping track of where our money is going? >> they're almost as scary and wasteful as that gsa guy in the hot tub with the wine. [laughter] here it was a thousand dollars, what it was was the government paid-for entry fee. and, remember, this was two shows on an island -- megyn: the paradise point resort and spa. >> clearly, they were having fun. but we paid for it. >> general government

conferences at these really beautiful, exotic places. how many hawaiian conferences, you know? i worked on the hill, i don't remember ever going to conferences. i used to go into the lame cafeteria downstairs. >> we were very poor. we had no money. megyn: i work in the private sector, right? i work for a private employer, and do you know how many conferences i have been to for fox news? zero. >> but you get to places like iowa -- megyn: yeah, really. [laughter] why are these necessary? >> i agree. megyn: why do you have to have these? >> there's actually an urban training center in indiana. i'm from indiana, know all about this. it's a thousand-acre facility, and they didn't use it because, i'm guessing, indiana isn't as fun. so they wanted to go to the paradise cove -- megyn: but is it so bad to try to inspire the folks who are trying to train in counterterrorism to actually show up, first of all, it's better to have it instead of maybe at the ranch at paradise point resort and spa and then offer a little bit of

entertainment? is coburn being a little hard -- >> no, he's not being hard. but by the way, guys, zombies? is this a realistic threat to us? maybe it is. megyn: it's crisis management. >> you're going to be really sorry, charles, when those zombies show up -- [laughter] >> because you've got to kill them over and over again. megyn: you're going to be wishing -- >> are you encouraging people to go get ak47s? megyn: the first responders are putting stakes through the hearts of -- >> those guys had a blast doing that. it was a lot of fun. megyn: this is all great for the laughs, but we did a report, i don't know, a couple months ago about government waste. we, the taxpayers, paid for the breast implants of a prostitute. it's a long story, but we did. >> yeah. megyn: and back to the question of who is minding the story and why people don't talk more about the government waste before i think a lot of people would say, all right, you need to tax more. we have the privilege of living

in america, we'll pay more. but who is going to insure that it's not going to pay for fake boobs and zombie training? is. [laughter] >> he's the real deal. we're going to be totally honest about this, do we elect people and send them to washington not to bring home this kind of stuff? i'm not bringing home the bacon, i'm not -- >> john mccain did. >> i'm not going to be a zombie! [laughter] >> megyn: pay for your own breasts! >> ultimately, it comes back to the american people to say this is ridiculous. >> they say it. it's just a wig part. it's not -- [inaudible conversations] >> president bush would not have approved of the zombie -- >> oh, president bush approved a bunch of wasteful stuff too. these guys go down to washington, and you know the mentality they get -- >> it's not their money. >> it's not, and they really treat it like a piggybank. megyn: remember the whole jeff neely picture in the hot tub --

>> very creepy, scary. megyn: conference, and -- there he is. [laughter] >> what's scarier, the zombie or him? megyn: i don't know. they had the contest where the people were rubbing money all over themselves, they were like, yeah, we gotta spend it. and that was our money. >> don't forget the clown show. >> you know what? and then it gets even worse at the state and local level where these guys go to atlantic city -- megyn: you are supposed to be making us feel better, you are supposed to be defending the administration. >> well, actually a pox on everybody. it's not an administration thing, the democrats do it, the republicans do it -- megyn: it's an american thing. spend on frivolous things. >> i know, and i hate to be a buzzkill, because i know i'm supposed to make you feel better -- >> no talk of cutting back spending. all about how much we're going to raise taxes so we can have more fun, so we can have more fun like this. break out the zombies. megyn: 40, 40, -- ho, ho, ho!

i'm reading rudolph the red-nosed reindeer to my son, and that used to work just fine. he did not need a huge tank that was a quarter million dollars. >> maybe he might need it every now and then. megyn: have you met rudolph? he can handle the rough weather. panel, thank you. [laughter] coming up next, a new, stunning report out on this colorado movie masser suspect as thousands of e-mails were just released. there are new questions about what was confessed to the university psychiatrist, what she said to the police in the days before this man is said to have pulled the trigger. kelly's court is next. twins. i didn't see them coming.

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movie massacre suspect talked to his campus psychiatrist about killing, quote, a lot of people. this report unearthed as thousands of new e-mails in the case have justin just been e re. now, a local station out in denver, colorado, has reported that the psychiatrist treating james holmes reached out to campus police and actually violated patient confidentiality because she was so concerned. but then she reportedly opted not to place him under a psychiatric hold because he was withdrawing from the university. that was in june. in july this was of the scene in aurora, colorado, where authorities say holmes opened fire on a packed movie theater killing 12, as i said, and wounding so many more. the new evidence raises questions over whether someone somewhere could have seen this coming, should have seen this coming and should have done more to protect the community, not just the campus. joining me now, mercedes colon and mark eiglarsh who's a former

prosecutor, now defense attorney. both in new york. mark, let me start with you on this, on whether this psychiatrist who, you know, according to reports was told by holmes he wanted to kill a lot of people to the point where she violated the privilege to go contact the cops should have done more. >> megyn, i'm not ready to hang anybody yet until i know what really the facts are. we can play with your introductory facts and say those are the facts, and we can play hypothetical. but i'd want to know from her -- which i have yet to hear or see any e-mails that say he told me he wanted to kill hundreds of people now, immediately, in the future -- megyn: mark, if it's at the point where she calls the campus police and violates patient confidentiality, she clearly thinks it's imminent. >> i agree. but then the question is why didn't they, authorities, deem it to be a significant enough risk to do something? that's apparently what took place. so it depends on the words that were told to her. she might have passed it along because she thought, all right, maybe -- and then they look at

it, and they say, you know what? we don't think this is significant enough. megyn: but, mercedes, the campus police reportedly said to her, well, do you want to put him on a psych hold, you're his psychiatrist, and she said, according to this reporting, no, because he's about to kill the college. >> shame on the psychiatrist for not doing something more. obviously, she was concerned enough to reach out and say, look, i honestly believe -- and that's one of the reasons why there isn't a violation. i honestly believe there's imminent harm to other individuals on the campus. that's why she breached her patient/client relationship and made those disclosures. that's the only way she can do it without a violation. so she was clearly concerned for the campus students, and that's why she disclosessed it. but secondly, you know what, mark? you'll never know what exactly was told. she will not come forward unless she's able to show that there was some imminent harm, and because there are federal regulations that prohibit that disclosure. but it was -- >> mercedes -- megyn: but she did it.

the reporting is that the local police officer said, this is campus police, said do you want a 72-hour mental health evaluation, a 72-hour detention, and she was -- dr. lynn fenton was empowered to order such a hold, but they say the cop had no reason to order such a hold herself and were deferring to the doctor's judgment. the doctor said, he's already put in his notice that he's withdrawing from the university, so they said the hold wasn't necessary. i mean, does a campus psychiatrist, mark, have an obligation to the community, not just the campus in. >> to me, the answer is, yes. i just can't get past that the facts are that black and white, they're that perfect. but if those are the -- megyn: i get ya, we don't know until we hear it ourselves in court. >> let me tell you, megyn, if there's ever a time when we're going to truly hear what happened and come back and go, ooh, i shouldn't have thrown that psychiatrist under the bus, this may be the case. but, yes, i'll play along, and if those are the facts, then,

yes, she has an obligation -- >> but hold on, mark. she did make a disclosure that he was a threat. she made the disclosure he was a threat on campus. should she have done something more to prevent the massacre from happening in the community? megyn: let me ask you this, mercedes. not to put all the focus -- and let's just be clear, james holmes is the one responsible for these murders, and the only reason we're looking at those who are advising james holmes or knew about the threat is to make sure similar behavior is not repeated in the future. so there needs to be some accountability as well, but i don't want to, you know, suggest that anybody other than holmes is responsible. but on the subject of the campus police, mercedes, is it true, i mean, they get a phone call from a psychiatrist saying the guy's threatening to kill a lot of people, and 3 campus -- and the campus police, can you go arrest somebody for just saying that stuff? >> that's hard to believe. well, i mean -- >> the answer's, no.

>> i don't believe they had to arrest him -- megyn: they could monitor him? could they monitor him? what could they do to sort of watch out to make sure he wasn't >> exactly. they could have monitored him. they could have put him in that 72-hour psych evaluation. that could have really led to preventing -- >> isn't there a difference between a patient saying, you know what and sometimes. there's even sometimes i feel like harming myself and even hundreds of people versus him saying i am going to harm hundreds of people very soon -- megyn: totally. and the difference, apparently, kicked in in his consultations with dr. fenton because she broke patient confidentiality and called the cops. >> and, megyn, in every jurisdiction there's a mental health law that says if someone says, hey, i'm going to harm myself or others, you can put them under evaluation. megyn: what you're saying is that the cops were not empowered

to do much without the psychiatrist saying put on the hold. >> exactly right. and that's unfortunate for them because, obviously, there's 20/20 hindsight. megyn: i know. we're all looking back knowing what happened in aurora, so you have to be somewhat forgiving of the folks who were trying to make their best judgement. panel, thank you both. >> thanks, megyn. megyn: coming up, breaking news as a global manhunt comes to an end. [ loud party sounds ] hi, i'm ensure clear... clear, huh? i'm not juice or fancy water. i've gotine grams of protein. that's three times more than me! [ female announcer ] ensure clear. nine grams protein. zero fat. in blueberry/pomegranate and peach.

♪ megyn: well, bear hunting season is underway in new jersey. it's the third year of the program, and the six-day season is said to have helped cut dangerous bear encounters in that state almost in half. but it is controversial. rick leventhal joins us live

from newton, new jersey, with more. >> reporter: there's been a sharp dropoff in the kill total this year, last year hunters were rolling in regularly with dead bears in the back of their pickup trucks. this year just a handful have come in as part of this program designed to reduce the number of bears across the state and reduce the number of bear/human interactions in the state. 193 killed in the first three days this year, 311 first three days last year. some say that the bears have already gorged on food and are laying low, but critics say it's evidence the hunt is about trophies and not about public safety. >> i've lived in bear country for over ten years, and i've never had any issues with black bears. >> reporter: but other people have. >> there has never been an incident, a serious incident in the state of new jersey with a black bear. not in its history. >> reporter: well, the state says the goal of this program is just that, to make sure there are no serious incidents.

they've reduced the population from 3400 in 2010 to about 2800 today. bear sightings are down, but there are still concerns about the safety of residents. >> we have bears that break into houses, that kill livestock, they kill family pets. so the population is sort of stressed. they're moving into more populated areas and creating problems, and we need to control that. >> reporter: so the department of fish and wildlife has compiled some safety tips to bear-proof your home. they include closing your windows while cooking, don't leave groceries in the car, install a motion sensor in the yard and use bear-resistant garbage cans. megyn, this hunt lasts through saturday, and as soon as hunters get one bear, they're done. megyn: all right, rick, thank you. well, syria could launch a deadly nerve agent against its own people anytime now. what can the world do to stop bashar assad before he does that? the options on the table, coming up.

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